The AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR is a new full-frame super telephoto lens for Nikon SLRs. With a weight of "merely" 8.3lb / 3810g (vs. the 11.5lb / 5060g of its predecessor), the lens features two fluorite lens elements and four ED elements, as well as an electromagnetic diaphragm, which helps with maintaining consistent exposure during high-speed burst shooting of fast action. The addition of fluorite lens elements to the optical formula helps reduce chromatic aberration, and plays a key role in the overall weight reduction. Additionally, the new design promises "significantly improved" AF tracking performance. The lens features the latest incarnation of Nikon’s Vibration Reduction technology, with automatic tripod detection to counteract vibrations when mounted on a tripod. For pros shooting fast and erratic moving sports or subjects, using the SPORT VR mode will yield a more stable viewfinder image whether handholding the lens. The AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR will be available in mid-July for the SRP $12,299.95 / £9,649.99 / €12,999.00.

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4E FL ED VR is a new super telephoto lens for Nikon SLR cameras with an FX sized sensor. The 'E' designation in the product name denotes an electromagnetic diaphragm which helps maintain consistent exposure during high-speed burst shooting of fast action. The lens weighs in at 6.8lb / 3090g, which may sound heavy - but is actually significantly lighter than the 8.5lb / 3880g of its predecessor. The optical formula of this lens combines two fluorite elements and three Extra Low Dispersion (ED) glass elements to further reduce chromatic aberration while providing superior sharpness and color accuracy. Additionally, the new design is claimed to "significantly improve" AF tracking performance. For enhanced durability, the lens is gasketed against the elements and has a fluorine coating on a front protective meniscus element to make it easier to remove dirt, moisture and smudges. The supplied tripod collar boasts completely new bearings for smoother switching between horizontal and vertical orientation. To make the lens easier to carry, the tripod mount has been repositioned closer to the rear, a change that also enables the included one-piece hood to be easily reversed. The new AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4E FL ED VR will be available in mid-July for a suggested retail price of $10,299.95 / £8,149.99 / €10,999.00.

The AF-S DX Nikkor 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR is a stabilised 24-120mm equivalent standard zoom for Nikon cameras with DX sized sensors. The optical formula comprises 17 elements in 13 groups, and features a seven-bladed electro-magnetic diaphragm that creates a nearly circular aperture. The new AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-80mm F/2.8-4E ED VR is the first Nikon DX-format lens to wear the gold “N” emblem to indicate the presence of Nikon’s exclusive Nano Crystal Coat. This advanced optical coating significantly reduces instances of ghosting and flare for the highest quality images, the company says. The front and rear elements also integrate a fluorine coating to make it easier to remove dirt, moisture and smudges from the lens surface. For fast, accurate and quiet AF performance, the 16-80mm also features Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor (SWM) technology. The minimum focus distance lets you get as close as 0.35m. The new Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR will be available in July for a suggested retail price of $1,069.95 / £869.99 / €1179.00. The lens is supplied with a dedicated HB-75 bayonet hood.

SIRUI have announced a new range of adventure-proof tripods and new additions to their existing lines. The Wave & Wilderness series can be used in harsh environments without worrying about the ingress of dust and water. The legs are fitted with a set of special seals which, coupled with the CNC cut, forged aluminium casting that SIRUI is famous for, allow the tripod to be submerged to its shoulders in water. Extra height can be added by attaching the patented central column. The W Series are available at £599.99 (W-1204) and £699.99 (W-2204). Besides the Wave & Wilderness line, SIRUI has enhanced its Travel T0X line with two new models, aimed at those needing a lightweight, compact travel tripod without compromising stability. Weighing in from just 930g, with a maximum working height of 147cm and a closed size of 40cm, these new tripods are supplied with a C-10X ballhead in matching colour with Arca-style QR plate and a slim carrying bag and are priced from £169.99, with the 8-layer carbon version (T-024X) being available from £269.99.

The British Life Photography Awards are open for entries from 1st July to 26th September. This photographic competition is a showcase for contemporary and imaginative images that capture the essence and spirit of British life. With an overall prize fund worth over £10,000 sponsored by Sony; the awards feature ten separate categories including Rural Life, Street Life, Work in the Community, Urban Life, Portraiture, Brits on Holiday, Documentary Series, British Fashion and Popular Culture, British Weather and Young British Life Photographer. The competition is open to both amateurs and professionals. Do note that images that have been entered into a major competition where the results are still pending are not eligible for entry.

EEF, the UK manufacturers’ organisation, and Lombard, the UK’s largest asset finance provider, are asking photographers to submit images that capture the essence of modern British manufacturing. Photographs can portray any stage of manufacturing, from design, process and technology in action through to the finished product, and can cover traditional or high-tech sectors. Companies are being encouraged to open their doors to photographers in their local area to demonstrate what makes manufacturing so great. Winners of the EEF/Lombard Manufacturing Photography Competition will share a prize fund of £5000 worth of photographic equipment from headline sponsor Canon and gain national recognition at a Westminster awards reception in December. The closing date for submissions is 30th September.As always, we recommend that you read the rules before entering your work.

DxO have released DxO OpticsPro 10.4.2, DxO FilmPack v5.1.4, and DxO ViewPoint 2.5.6 for Mac and Windows. These updates add support for the Canon EOS 5DS and 5DS R. Additionally, DxO OpticsPro 10.4.2 also adds 789 new camera/lens combinations to its DxO Optics Modules library, whilst DxO FilmPack 5.1.4 and DxO ViewPoint 2.5.6 gain full compatibility with Adobe Photoshop CC 2015.

Issue 42 of David Noton’s Chasing the Light Online Magazine is now available.In this month's Behind the Lens feature, David describes his experience of working on a commission to shoot the beautiful Venice Simplon Orient Express as it made its way through the Austrian Tyrol. In Stepping Back, he reminisces on his beloved Umbria, describing the love affair he and Wendy have enjoyed with that region over the last decade. Then in Part 8 of his Low Down series on Exposure, David looks at the ‘need for speed’, otherwise known as fast shutter speeds: when we need them, why we need them, and how fast we need them. For this month’s How It’s Done, he returns to Vietnam to try his hand at some close quarters travel portraiture. Ross Hoddinott reveals how his photography of the enchanting wildlife on the Galapagos Islands benefitted from a recent second visit, whilst Chris Weston discusses how really getting to know a subject can make all the difference in this field. And this month, experienced travel photographer Jeremy Horner kick-starts his own new column, Sense of Place, by remembering on his long-standing photo relationship with the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. Do note that the full contents of the magazine is available to full f11 subscribers only. Non-members can purchase individual issues of the magazine at a price of £4.20.

Eyefi today announced that their Eyefi Mobi app is now available for the Windows Phone operating system. This means Windows Phone users can now take pictures with both their digital cameras and mobile phones, with all pictures being automatically organised and available to share instantly. The app leverages unique features that are part of the Windows Phone platform including Live Tiles. You can download the Eyefi Mobi app for free, but in order to add photos from your digital camera(s), you will also need to purchase an Eyefi Mobi memory card (pictured).

Canon today announced the Pixma MG3620 Wireless Inkjet All-in-One device for high-quality photo and document printing.  Featuring an improved wireless printing experience for compatible smartphone and tablet users through the updated Canon PRINT application, users can easily print from and scan images and documents to several of the most popular online social platforms and services, such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Photobucket, Dropbox, Evernote, Creative Park and Creative Park Premium, Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive. New features include the ability to print images directly from Instagram so those special moments can live beyond the digital feed. Available now in three colours -- white, black or red -- for an estimated retail price of $79.99, the Pixma MG3620 Wireless Inkjet All-in-One device comes complete with Canon's My Image Garden and Full HD Movie Print applications to help users produce clear images of frames from videos captured on select Canon EOS Digital SLRs, PowerShot Digital Cameras, and VIXIA Camcorders.

Canon have filed a patent that suggests the company may be working on a 35mm full-frame compact system camera. The patent, which was filed on 13 December 2013 and published a few days ago, describes an adapter which would allow Canon EF and EF-S lenses to be mounted on an as-yet-nonexistent full-frame Canon mirrorless camera. Of course, patented solutions do not always end up being implemented in a commercially available product (far from it); but still - this could mean that Canon are considering to launch an FF-CSC to compete with the likes of the Sony A7R II.

Source: Egami via CR

Atomos have released AtomOS6.4 for their Shogun external recorder/monitor, which enables users of the Sony FS700 and FS7 (pictured) to take the RAW 4K-DCI feed from the SDI output on the camera and record directly to 4K-DCI ProRes or DNxHR. Other new features include anamorphic de-squeeze, pre-roll recording, custom time-lapse capture, additional LUT capabilities, playlist generation, expanded metadata tagging and the activation of the Genlock terminal on the back of the Shogun to allow for synchronised playout and playback.

The Olymous Air A01, a Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled camera unit designed for use with smartphones, will become available in the US in July. Originally announced in February by Olympus Japan, the Olympus Air A01 features a Four Thirds sized 16-megapixel MOS sensor, a Micro Four Thirds lens mount, an electronic shutter with a top speed of 1/16,000s, an 81-point AF system, a shutter release and a tripod socket. Weighing-in at 147 grams, the Olympus Air A01 can be controlled via a smartphone app. In the United States, the Air A01 will be available for $299.99 (sans lens), and $499.99 in a kit with the 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ zoom. Canadian customers will be able to purchase it in August for CDN$399.99 (body only) and CDN$599,99 (kit).

Leica says the development phase of a new generation of imagers, which should fix the corrosion-related issue pertaining to the cover glass of the sensors of the Leica M9 / M9-P / M Monochrom and M-E, has now nearly been completed. The issue, which causes white speckles to appear in photos taken with some of these cameras, was acknowledged by Leica on 10 December 2014. Since then, the company has been working with its sensor supplier on a long-term technical solution. In the next phase, independent users will be testing the new-generation imagers "in practical situations." After completion and evaluation of this testing phase, Leica will begin replacing the corroded sensors as a "goodwill arrangement." Do note that the free sensor replacement service is only offered for cameras actually affected by the corrosion issue.

InfoParrot have released a new bundle of 10 free "HDR" presets for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. Do note that in order to download the bundle, you first need to "like" or share the InfoParrot page on Facebook / Twitter.

Transcend today announced the Transcend StoreJet 35T3, its latest 3.5" external hard drive featuring storage capacities up to 8TB and USB 3.0 interface. Designed for users with high-capacity requirements, the StoreJet 35T3 delivers real-world transfer rates of up to 200 MB/s, fast enough to transfer a 4.7GB movie in 24 seconds. The new Transcend drive features a unique One Touch auto-backup button that other 3.5-inch external hard drive brands do not include. The One Touch backup system allows users to instantly backup and synchronize data with their notebook or desktop PC. For added value, the StoreJet 35T3 includes a free download of the exclusive Transcend Elite data management software that helps users manage data and increase productivity. With this convenient software, users can easily perform incremental backups, secure confidential information, and much more. Transcend's StoreJet 35T3 external hard drives are available in 3TB, 4TB  and 8TB capacities and carry a three-year limited warranty.

The second in the Mastering your DSLR series by Simon Watkinson, the iBook Mastering DSLR Travel Photography will benefit any photographer wishing to improve their travel photography skills. Simon has been teaching photography for nearly 15 years and has a way with explaining his subject in a simple and easy to understand manner. As well as explaining the techniques and technical aspects of photography this book considers all aspects of travel photography from what equipment to take, how to stay well and planning a trip. There are also tutorials of process techniques in Adobe Lightroom as well a exploring the world of black and white photography. The 200-page iBook is currently available at the discounted price of £2.99/$3.99 - for the Apple iPad and Mac computers only.